Typewriting machine



Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES TYPEWRITING MACHINE Donald L.Fleming, Gienshaw, Pa., assignor of one-half to Samuel H. Harper,Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application September 9 Claims.

The invention relates to typewrlting machines, particularly tobookkeeping machinescombination typewrlting and adding machines-of thesort now commonly used by banks in keeping their accounts. I

In accordance with usual banking practice the ledger sheets ofindividual customers are ar ranged alphabetically and carried in asuitable file case, and each day the deposit slips and canceled checksof the customers are given to the bookkeeper in quantity, already sortedand arranged in alphabetical sequence. In posting the customer'saccounts, it is the duty of the bookkeeper, as he goes over each depositslip and check, to run through the ledger sheets in the file, draw outthe one required, introduce it into and bring it to position in thebookkeeping machine, make the entry, and return the sheet toalphabetical place in the file.

The invention is of time saving nature. The whole file of ledger sheetsis arranged in mechanical organization with the typing instrumentalltlesof the bookkeeping machine, and the organization is such that each sheetin turn, exposed to the view 01' the operator, is automatically advancedin either of two courses. Either it is shunted around the typinginstrumentalities,

and deposited in alphabetical sequence in a second container, or it isadvanced to the typing 0 instrumentalities. Means are provided forselectively controlling theadvance of the sheets in these alternatecourses, and, as each particular sheet is introduced to the typinginstrumentallties, the advance of the succeeding sheets is arrested,until the entries have been made on the particular sheet and the sheet,discharged from the typing instrumentalities, is brought to place in thesecond container.

Means are provided for bringing the sheet to be posted accurately andautomatically to position in the typewriting instrument, and such meansare responsive to an indicium provided on the sheet itself.

More particularly, when, in the course of the automatic advance oi theledger sheets, a particular sheet is brought into proper position in thetypewriting instrument and the advance of the succeeding sheets isarrested, the operator enters in usual manner the items to be posted.While the sheet continues in the instrument, and at a particular pointin the range of horizontal movement of the typewriter carriage theoperator presses a particular button, with the consequence and effectthat an indicium is placed upon 55 the sheet in alignment (or in otherprecise orien- 2, 1936, Serial No. 99,069

tation) with that entry. The indicium may be a black spot, or a shortblack line, or perhaps a perforation, but in any case there will be alocalized change in the physical condition of the sheet. When, then, inposting subsequent items the same sheet is again introduced to andcaused to advance in the typewriting instrument, the last appliedindicium serves as a tell-tale by which the sheet is arrested inprecisely the position for making the next entry. The invention consistsin the provision of means to this end in a bookkeeping machine, or othertypewriting apparatus.

Co-operating with a spot on the sheet may be a photo-electric eye.Co-operating with a perforation in the sheet may be a photo-electriceye, or perhaps pneumatic instrumentalities. Such alternative controldevices are well known. But in any case the localized change in thephysical condition of the sheet serves automatically to control meansfor positioning the sheet on its next ensuing introduction into themachine.

In exemplary way the accompanying drawing illustrates the inventionembodied in a bookkeeping machine. Fig. I is a diagrammatic view of themachine, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section; andFig. II is a view in plan of a typical ledger sheet.

Referring to Fig. I, the reference numeral I is applied to a rotaryplaten mounted in usual way in the transverse carriage (not shown) ofthe machine, and 2 is applied to the usual housing that includes thetyping instrumentalities and adding mechanism, which are operated bymeans of a key-board accessible in the top 3 of the housing, for typingdata upon a ledger sheet positioned on the platen.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a container 4 for a file ofledger sheets 5. Each ledger sheet carries in usual way, in its upperleft-hand corner, the name (6, Fig. II) of a customer, and the severalledger sheets of the file are arranged with the names carried thereby inalphabetical sequence. The container is inclined, and a weight 'I,resting on wheels on the floor of the container, tends to advance the 1sheets from right to left and presses the foremost sheet against thefront wall 40, o! the container. The-sheets stand with their upperportions extending above the top of the front wall la, so that the namehome by the foremost sheet is readily accessible to the view of theoperator. The front wall la includes atransversely extending windowimmediately above the floor of the container, and in this window aroller I is mounted, with the periphery of the roller in frictionalcontact with the foremost sheet a in the file. Normally the roller I iscontinuously rotated in clockwise direction, by an electric motor 9, andunder the effect of the rotating roller the foremost sheet to V is feddownward-the floor of the container 4 being adapted to support frombelow all but the foremost sheet of the file.

Below the feeding roller 8, a guiding roller I0 is mounted in the end ofarmature H of an electromagnet l2, which magnet is connected in seriesin the normally energized circuit a of motor I. The energized magnetnormally maintains the armature in its illustrated position, against thetension of a spring l9, and in such position of the armature the rolleri0 is adapted to deflect the descending sheet (50) into an inclinedchute l4, leading to a second container or receptacle l1. Upon beingreleased upon the chute, the sheet slides downward into the receptacleI1 and is deposited (in sequence) upon the sheets already dischargedinto the receptacle.

Alternately, by pressing a push button IS, the normally energizedcircuit a is interrupted, the electromagnet is de-energized, the springl3 retracts the armature II in right to left direction, and theparticular sheet descending from container l is fed vertically downwardand enters between guiding straps [6 that are arranged at each of theopposite ends of the platen I. It will be perceived that one strap IQ ofeach pair extends downward in close tangential relation with the face ofthe platen, and thence curves beneath the platen toward an inclinedchute i9, also leading to the receptacle H. The sheet descendingvertically from container 4 is engaged at its opposite edges between thestraps i9 and the surface of the platen, in such manner that rotation ofthe platen in the direction of the arrow is effective to feed the sheetunder the platen and upon the chute l8, whenc it is discharged into thereceptacle, upon the pile of sheets already there. Thus, it will beperceived that the sheets removed in alphabetical sequence from thecontainer 4 may be caused to advance in either of two courses-either tothe chute ll or to the platen i--and after advancing through eithercourse the successive sheets are deposited in the receptacle il inproper sequence.

The energizing circuit a of the motor 9 includes a mercury switch I!normally standing in circuitclosing position, as illustrated. The switchI9 is delicately mounted to swing about a pivot 20, and carries a finger2! that extends athwart the vertical way through which sheets 5 move tothe platen I. The operator, desiring to make an entry on the ledgersheet of John Doe, say, permits the sheets 5 of individuals whose namesstand before John Doe in alphabetical order to be successively ejectedfrom the container 4 and carried, by way of chute II, to the receptaclel1. When, by scanning the names appearing on the sheets above the wallla of container 4, the operator sees the name of John Doe, he pressesthe button l5. Thereupon, the circuit a is interrupted, the magnet I2 isde-energized, and the guiding roller l0 shifted, permitting John Doessheet to move vertically downward. The mass of the rotating roller 9 andof the rotor of motor 9 is of such effective value that, when thecircuit a is interrupted, the roller continues to turn under inertiauntil John Doe's sheet is ejected from the container. As the roller Icomes to rest, the feeding of sheets from container 5 ceases. As JohnDoe's sheet descends to the platen i, it engages the finger 2| of thedelicately poised mercury switch i9, and swings the switch intocircuit-interrupting position, and, by engagement of the tip of finger2| with the face of the sheet, the switch is held in such position, solong as the sheet remains upon the platen. Thus, the circuit a, openedby pressing button I5, is maintained open and no sheet is fed from thecontainer, so long as John Does sheet remains on the platen l.

Normally, a motor 22, energized by an electric circuit b, rotates theplaten i continuously, and by such means John Does sheet is advanceddownward, until an indicium provided on the sheet, as already mentioned,causes the operation of means for arresting the sheet in preciseposition to receive the intended entry. In this case the indiciaprovided on the ledger sheets comprise black spots or bars B, arrangedon the righthand margin of each sheet, as shown in Fig; II, and themeans for arresting the advance of a particular sheet on the platenconsist in a photoelectric eye, which, by scanning the right-hand marginof the advancing sheet, is operated when a bar B comes opposite it. Suchoperation of the photo-electric eye opens the energizing circuit ofmotor 22; the platen l (conveniently operating against a braking drag)immediately stops, and the sheet is arrested in proper position on theplaten to receive the entry. The operator then makes the entry, and, atthe end of the entry applies an indicium B that will be effective whenin the course of operation the next succeeding entry is to be made. Akey 23'may readily and in known way be adapted to operate a type forapplying the black bar B at the end of, and in this case below, theentry May 2-l0.00290.00 last posted on John Does sheet. When theoperator has thus posted the entry and applied the indicium, he pressesa button 24, and in consequence the motor 22 is again set in motion, theplaten rotates, and John Does sheet is by way of chute i9 dischargedinto the receptacle i1. As the sheet leaves the platen, the switch l9swings back into circuitclosing position, the motor 9 and electromagnetl2 are energized, and the successive advance of sheets from thecontainer 4 to the receptacle ll again proceeds by way of chute ll.

Specifically, the means for automatically interrupting rotation of theplaten i in the manner mentioned above include a switch-arm 25 mountedto swing on a pivot 26. The armature 21 of a normally de-energizedelectromagnet 28 normally engages the upper end of the switch-arm, asshown, and secures the switch-arm, against tension of a spring 29, incircuit-closing position. The photo-electric eyeconsisting in known wayof a light source, a photo-electric cell, amplifying tubes, etc.isarranged within a windowed housing 30, mounted in such position that theindicia B of sheets advancing on the platen must pass the window. When asheet 5 is advanced (bottom end first) over the platen, the indiciumlast applied to the sheet is the first to reach a position before thewindow. Such indicium (a black bar B) efl'ects a diminution of or areflection of the light entering the window. This change in illuminationof the photo-electric cell effects in known way a change in theintensity of the minute current of the photo-electric cell circuit inhousing 30, and such change in this minute current, amplified in usualway, causes a current of substantial value to flow through a circuit 0.Thus, the magnet 29 is energized, its armature 21 is drawn upward, andthe switch-arm (released to the force of spring 29) swings clockwiseuntil its lower end abuts upon a stop 3|. Thus, the motor circuit 11 isautomatically interrupted when the last-applied indicium on theadvancing ledger sheet comes to position before the photo-electric 5eye, and thus the rotating platen is arrested and the ledger sheetpositioned to receive the desired entry.

When the entry has been made, and a new indicium has been applied to thesheet in the 10 manner already mentioned, the push-button 24 is pressed,with the consequence that a normally open circuit d is closed, anelectromagnet 32 is energized, and the switch-arm 25 is by the magnetrestored to its illustrated pomtion beneath the 16 latch 21, therebyclosing motor circuit 11 and again setting the platen l in rotation.

By virtue of the foregoing description, my invention will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art, and it will be understood thatmany 20 refinements and elaborations in apparatus will occur to theengineer within the terms of the appended claims. And in modification ofthe exemplary machine described above, the typewriting instrumentalitiesmay in known way be 25 moved relatively to the entry-receiving sheet,and an indicium borne by the sheet caused to control means for arrestingsuch instrumentalities in p p position with respect to the sheet.

I claim as my invention:

30 1. In typewriting machinery, the combination, with a typewriterplaten, of a container for a plurality of sheets. means for removingsheets in sequence from said container, a receptacle for receiving suchsheets in sequence, and means 35 responsive to manual control forselectively advancing the sheets in alternate courses from saidcontainer to said receptacle, one of said courses leading over saidtypewriter platen.

, 2. In typewriting machinery, the combinatlon,

4 with a typewriter platen, of a container for a plurality of sheets,means for removing sheets in sequence from said container, a receptaclefor receiving such sheets in sequence, means responsive to manualcontrol for selectively ad- 45 vancing the sheets in alternate coursesfrom said container to said receptacle, one of said courses leading tosaid typewriter platen, means for causing sheets automatically toadvance over said platen, and means for arresting a sheet in the ,60course of such advance.

3. In typewriting machinery, the combination, with a typewriter platen,of a container for a plurality of sheets. means for removing sheets insequence from said container, a receptacle for 55 receiving such sheetsin sequence, means responsive to manual control for selectivelyadvancing the sheets in alternate courses from said container to saidreceptacle, one of said courses leading'to said typewriter platen, meansfor caus- 60 ing sheets automatically to advance over said platen, meansfor arresting a sheet in the course of such advance, and means operatingin coordination with said last means for intermitting the removal ofsheets from said container while a sheet is so arrested.

4. In typewriting machinery, the combination, with a typewriter platen,of a container for a plurality ot sheets, means for removing sheets insequence from said container, a receptacle for receiving such sheets insequence, means responsive to manual control for selectively advancingthe sheets in alternate courses from said container to said receptacle,one of said courses lead- 5 ing over said typewriter platen, and meansincluding an indicium borne by the sheet for arresting the sheet in thecourse of such advance over the platen.

5. In typewriting machinery, the combination, with a typewriter platen,of a container for a plurality of sheets, means for removing sheets insequence from said container, a receptacle for receiving such sheets insequence, means for selectively advancing the sheets in alternatecourses from said container to said receptacle, one of said coursesleading over said typewriter platen, and means for imposing amachinecontrolling indicium upon the sheet advanced to said platen.

6. In typewriting machinery, the combination, with a typewriter platen,of a container for a plurality of sheets, means for removing sheets insequence from said container, a receptacle for receiving such sheets insequence, means for selectively advancing the sheets .in alternatecourses from said container to said receptacle, one .0! said coursesleading over said typewriter platen, means for imposing an indicium uponthe sheet advanced to said platen, and means responsive to the indiciumimposed upon the sheet in the course of a previous advance over saidplaten for arresting the sheet in said course of advance over theplaten.

'7. The structure of the next preceding claim, together with meansoperating in co-ordination with said last means for intermitting theremoval of sheets from said container while a sheet is so arrested onsaid platen. I

8. In apparatus of the class described, the 40 combination of acontainer for a plurality of sheets, a receptacle, means for removingsheets in sequence from said container, two lines of advance to saidreceptacle, manually controlled means, whereby the advancing sheets maybe directed along one line or the other, a typewriterln one of saidlines of advance, means included in the organization of the typewriterfor imposing an indicium on the sheet advancing to it, and means forarresting the sheet in opera- 5o tive position in the typewriter inaccordance with the indicium imposed on the sheet in a previous advance.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination, with atypewriter platen, of a container for a plurality of sheets,,areceptacle, means for feeding sheets in sequence from said container tosaid receptacle, means for advancing a sheet into typing position on theface of said platen, means responsive to manual control 30 for selectingfrom said sequence a particular sheet to be advanced into such typingposition, and means responsive to an indicium borne by the sheet forarresting operation of such sheetadvancing means, with said particularsheet accurately positioned on the platen.

DONALD L. mmmzo.

